How Much Does It Cost to Unlock a Car?

Most drivers pay between $75 and $150 for a professional car unlock during standard hours, and roughly $150 to $250 for late-night, weekend, or holiday calls. Vehicle type, time of day, and distance all move the number. In San Diego, Lockout Krew charges a flat, upfront rate. No surprise math at the curb.

Below: what locksmiths across the country actually charge in 2026, the three things that swing the number, where AAA and the police fit in, and how flat-rate pricing keeps San Diego drivers out of the surprise-fee business.

The honest answer: usually $75 to $150

Across the country, cost guides put a standard-hours car unlock at roughly $60 to $150, with most jobs landing between $75 and $150 and plenty near the $110 mark. That covers the trip to you plus the labor of getting your door open without a scratch. Call at 2 a.m. or on a holiday and the range climbs to roughly $150 to $250 with companies that charge after-hours premiums.

The full spread is wider: anywhere from $50 to north of $400 once you factor in exotic vehicles, long drives, and 3 a.m. holiday calls. A straightforward car lockout is one of the cheapest locksmith jobs there is. It's the extras and the hour on the clock that stretch the bill, which is why a real quote beats a guess.

What actually moves the price

Three things decide most of the bill: when you call, what you drive, and where you're parked. None of them are secrets, but plenty of companies wait until the van arrives to do the math. Here's how each one plays out, so you can sanity-check any quote you get.

Time of day

Nights, weekends, and holidays carry a premium at most companies: typically a $25 to $75 surcharge on top of the standard rate, sometimes a whole different price sheet. And 2 a.m. is exactly when you can least shop around, which is how $95 jobs become $200 jobs.

What you drive

Common brands are quick, familiar work. High-security and luxury models (BMW, Audi, and friends) can run 30 to 50 percent more, because they take specialized tools and more careful technique to open cleanly. A trunk that locks independently of the doors can add work too.

Where you're parked

Distance is the quiet line item. Most quoted ranges already include the service call, but remote pickups can add a travel fee, and locksmiths in high-cost urban areas tend to price above the national average. A truly local San Diego company keeps that part of the bill boring.

Flat pricing vs. mystery math

The industry's worst-kept secret: the number you hear on the phone and the number on the invoice don't always match. Teaser quotes get a van to your curb, then 'complications' appear. The fix is simple: ask for the total, out-the-door price before anyone is dispatched. A legitimate locksmith will give it to you without flinching.

That's the whole model at Lockout Krew. Flat, upfront pricing: the quote you get on the phone is the price you pay at the car, whatever hour you call. The full pricing table is public, which is exactly where a price should live.

The cheaper routes (and their catch)

Already a AAA member? Lockout service is included with every membership plan, though there's fine print: locksmith reimbursement is capped by tier (around $50 on basic memberships up to $150 on Premier, varying by club), and each rescue counts against your yearly allotment of service calls. Full breakdown in our guide to whether AAA unlocks cars.

Police handle lockouts only when someone inside the vehicle is in danger. And the DIY route (coat hangers and hardware-store wedges) can chew up weatherstripping and paint fast, turning a modest service call into a body-shop estimate. If your keys are staring at you through the glass right now, start with what to do when your keys are locked in the car.

What you'll pay in San Diego

Lockout Krew runs flat, upfront pricing 24/7 across San Diego. You'll know your exact number before the van moves. No after-hours ambush, no arrival-fee surprise. And one thing is always free: if a child or pet is locked in a car, call 911 first, then call (619) 457-4260. The Krew handles those rescues at no charge, any hour.